Differences in self-stigma and help-seeking among individuals reporting a history of childhood maltreatment: a multi-country study
Abstract
Self-stigma is a significant barrier to help-seeking among survivors of childhood maltreatment (CM). Although context, including cultural context, shapes the way stigma-related beliefs are experienced and translated into help-seeking intentions, most evidence derives from Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) countries/cultures. This multi-national study examined cross-national differences in self-stigma dimensions and help-seeking intentions among CM survivors spanning both WEIRD (United States, Sweden, Switzerland) and non-WEIRD (Japan, South Africa, Türkiye) countries. Young adults with a retrospectively self-reported history of CM ( N = 2,691) completed online self-report measures assessing self-stigma dimensions (alienation, stereotype endorsement, secrecy, and perceived recovery) and help-seeking intentions. Group (WEIRD vs. non-WEIRD) differences were examined using ANCOVAs controlling for age, gender, education, subjective social status, and extent of CM exposure. Pearson correlations assessed associations among stigma-related constructs and help-seeking intentions at both group (regional; WEIRD vs. non-WEIRD) and country levels. Participants from non-WEIRD countries reported lower alienation alongside higher secrecy, perceived recovery, and help-seeking intentions compared to participants from WEIRD countries. Stereotype endorsement did not differ between groups. Correlational patterns among stigma-related constructs were broadly similar across contexts, but associations were descriptively stronger and more interlinked in WEIRD countries. Country-level analyses revealed substantial mean-level variation across countries. Self-stigma-related patterns among CM survivors varied descriptively across countries, with differing configurations of stigma-related dimensions observed across contexts. These findings underscore the importance of moving beyond WEIRD-centric models and support culturally sensitive approaches to stigma reduction and help-seeking promotion.
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BibTeX
@article{haimnachum2026differences,
title = {{Differences in self-stigma and help-seeking among individuals reporting a history of childhood maltreatment: a multi-country study}},
author = {Shilat Haim-Nachum and Monique C. Pfaltz and Billy Jansson and Chana T. Fisch and Görkem Ayas and Vedat Şar and Amit Lazarov and Stefanie Rita Balle and Dan Jenkins and Yaron Sela and Fatima Ahmed and Soraya Seedat and Ulrich Schnyder and Misari Oe and Doron Amsalem},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-76467-z},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-76467-z},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Differences in self-stigma and help-seeking among individuals reporting a history of childhood maltreatment: a multi-country study
AU - Shilat Haim-Nachum
AU - Monique C. Pfaltz
AU - Billy Jansson
AU - Chana T. Fisch
AU - Görkem Ayas
AU - Vedat Şar
AU - Amit Lazarov
AU - Stefanie Rita Balle
AU - Dan Jenkins
AU - Yaron Sela
AU - Fatima Ahmed
AU - Soraya Seedat
AU - Ulrich Schnyder
AU - Misari Oe
AU - Doron Amsalem
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-76467-z
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-76467-z
AB - Self-stigma is a significant barrier to help-seeking among survivors of childhood maltreatment (CM). Although context, including cultural context, shapes the way stigma-related beliefs are experienced and translated into help-seeking intentions, most evidence derives from Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) countries/cultures. This multi-national study examined cross-national differences in self-stigma dimensions and help-seeking intentions among CM survivors spanning both WEIRD (United States, Sweden, Switzerland) and non-WEIRD (Japan, South Africa, Türkiye) countries. Young adults with a retrospectively self-reported history of CM ( N = 2,691) completed online self-report measures assessing self-stigma dimensions (alienation, stereotype endorsement, secrecy, and perceived recovery) and help-seeking intentions. Group (WEIRD vs. non-WEIRD) differences were examined using ANCOVAs controlling for age, gender, education, subjective social status, and extent of CM exposure. Pearson correlations assessed associations among stigma-related constructs and help-seeking intentions at both group (regional; WEIRD vs. non-WEIRD) and country levels. Participants from non-WEIRD countries reported lower alienation alongside higher secrecy, perceived recovery, and help-seeking intentions compared to participants from WEIRD countries. Stereotype endorsement did not differ between groups. Correlational patterns among stigma-related constructs were broadly similar across contexts, but associations were descriptively stronger and more interlinked in WEIRD countries. Country-level analyses revealed substantial mean-level variation across countries. Self-stigma-related patterns among CM survivors varied descriptively across countries, with differing configurations of stigma-related dimensions observed across contexts. These findings underscore the importance of moving beyond WEIRD-centric models and support culturally sensitive approaches to stigma reduction and help-seeking promotion.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -